Skalka (964 m a.s.l.) is the highest point of the Ondřejník massif and of the entire Podbeskydská pahorkatina upland — a rewarding summit with sweeping views over the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy that punches well above its modest elevation. If you enjoy quiet forest trails ending in a proper panorama, this little peak will not disappoint.
Situated between the towns of Frýdlant nad Ostravicí and Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, Skalka has a pleasantly wild feel. The summit is marked by a small wooden mast, and on clear days the view across the entire Beskydy range is truly spectacular. The southwestern slope is protected as the Skalka Nature Reserve, home to a near-primeval silver fir and beech forest where some trees are up to 180 years old. The reserve also shelters an impressive range of reptiles and rare birds, making this a great destination even for nature enthusiasts who never quite make it to the top.
How to reach the summitKeep an eye out in the reserve for the common European adder and slow worm among the reptiles, and for rare birds such as the Ural owl and white-backed woodpecker nesting in the ancient beech forest.